“Benjamin Roethlisberger Jr., local team to compete
From Colin Beazley at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
A Roethlisberger and his team are about to represent Pittsburgh and compete for a championship on National TV, and it’s not Big Ben this time.
The former Steelers quarterback’s son, 11-year old Benjamin Roethlisberger Jr., and seven other local children will be competing for the PGA Junior League national championships started Wednesday in Frisco, Texas. The tournament runs through Sunday and will be broadcast live on the ESPN networks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The team, based out of Diamond Run Golf Club in Sewickley, advanced through multiple levels of qualification to reach this point. They competed for various different clubs throughout the PGA junior league season, then became an All-Star team in early June. The team competed as four two-person scrambles and won the Tri-State sectional event at Willowbrook in early August, then won the regional championship against three teams from New York in Syracuse in mid-September. Only 12 teams made it to Texas, where Diamond Run will compete as Team Pennsylvania.
The team is full of excellent golfers, but their coach, Adam Morrison, believes the team is special.
“The talent level obviously speaks for itself,” Morrison said. “… Golf’s a sport where it’s typically individual, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to have a teammate here and they’re all good teammates. They’re great kids.”
Sitting around a table after a recent practice, it’s clear both that the team genuinely likes each other and that they’re not nervous for the upcoming tournament.
They’re only a little bit worried about being on ESPN, but they’ll get used to it. They’re all excited to watch their own highlights on YouTube.
It’s also cool that the team doesn’t really care that the son of the former Steelers quarterback is on the team — he’s just Ben. From his scramble partner Bush, to Rittler, Ameredes, Hendrick, Miller, 12-year old Elijah Stewart, from East Liverpool, Ohio, and 11-year old Avella native Logan Gamrod, no one treats Little Ben any differently.
It’s the same way for the elder Roethlisberger. He often caddies for his son, but he’s not seen as a celebrity here.
“He’s just a normal dad,” Morrison said. “I think that’s the best way to say it. … He’s a great dad at […]
Footbahlin’ with Ben Roethlisberger, Episode 53
Ben: Pittsburgh is home
“Can I be coaching and be out here playing golf with my boys? I don’t think so. This is what matters to me right now. Being a husband and a father. You know, I can’t see myself coaching. You see the hours and the time they put in, and that’s great, but I can’t see myself doing that. So this right now is my priority, and I just absolutely love this.”
From Josh Carney, Steelers Depot:
A full-time dad and family man, Ben Roethlisberger is enjoying being a father and true Yinzer in retirement. But someday, after quarterbacking the team for nearly two decades, he hopes to have a new role in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
“Yeah, I’m gonna be here [in Pittsburgh]. We’re not leaving here. This is home for us and I’m gonna pay attention to it. And I’d love to get involved with the Steelers at some point when it’s right. Whatever that looks like, I don’t know. I just, I enjoy being here. I enjoy what goes on here.”
Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show on Friday afternoon while on the golf course in – where else – Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger stated that while he won’t be getting into coaching anytime soon, he’d “love” to involved with the Steelers organization in some capacity.
Footbahlin’ with Ben Roethlisberger
“This is what I miss most”
Watching the Steelers game-winning drive attempt had Big Ben wanting to play football again. — Alex.
From Alex Kozora, Steelers Depot:
Though comfortable in retirement, former Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger felt the urge to come down from the stands, strap on a helmet and shoulder pads, and try to lead the Steelers to victory one more time.
Ben was in the suite, McAfee co-host Tone Digs said to start today’s show. It was the first time all-game where he looked at us and he was like, “This is what I miss most. Being down and having the ball with two minutes left and make a game winning drive to win the football game. This is the only time I really miss football.”
Read more from Alex here.
Look whose in Indy today!
“Retirement looking real good on @_BigBen7“. — Rachal / @rach_elizabethh.
“You never know who you’ll see in the crowd at at @steelers @Colts game. @_BigBen7 here with @PatMcAfeeShow. #NFL” — Ed.
“Just a few old friends catching up 🤝” — Pittsburgh Steelers.